Post navigation

Diary Date: Rotherham Marxist Discussion Group – Topic: Fascism, What is it and how to fight it?

Next meeting, 2nd June, 7.30 Bridge Inn.
Topic: Fascism, What is it and how to fight it.
With the apparent swing to the right in Britain and Europe, the question on peoples mind is: has fascism raised its ugly head or is it that the established workers’ parties have abandoned any fight back against austerity and the workers are drawn to the right in desperation?

‘or is it that the established workers’ parties have abandoned any fight back against austerity and the workers are drawn to the right in desperation?’
It is not only the ‘workers’ who do not vote for left-of-centre parties.
I find the term ‘workers’ derogatory, it conjures up images of the Victorian era, Satanic Mills and so forth when in reality NHS front line staff, Bus,Truck and Cab drivers, to name a few, are workers and contributors to the wealth of Britain and there is no empirical evidence to support the view they all vote-or voted-Labour, SWP or CPGB.

I’m not sure why the term workers is derogatory. Today there is the ruling class and workers just as there was in Victorian times . The interests of capital and labour are diametrically opposed today as they were in Victorian times. Dark, satanic mills have been replaced by call centres and fast food outlets. 100 years ago Ben Tillett lead dockers who turned up to the docks in the hope that they would be selected for a day’s work. Fast forward to present day and the direct parallel is zero-hour contracts. A million people are using food banks in 21st century Britain and you consider workers to be a derogatory term! We’ve not come far in 100 years have we.

@Robin Symonds.
It seems certain employees use the term ‘worker’, all the companies I’ve worked for and those who employ my family members refer to ’employees’ or ‘colleagues’. I have never been called a ‘worker’ (I’ve been called other names but that’s another story!)
Some disaffected people have the mindset of the 1950’s and 60’s ie: shopfloor Good, Management Bad. Tell that to the partners who are employed by the John Lewis Partnership or Co-op employees. People who are employed by Nissan/Toyota/Honda enjoy working conditions that are far superior to those at the former BL and Ford plants.
The first food bank-which is not relevant to this discussion IMV-opened in 2008 and the majority of food bank users are not employed so the (unconnected) correlation between ‘workers’ and food banks distracts from the OP.
I know you have an agenda and you want the best for your members but the Marxism-v-Capitalism mantra is not the way forwards in the 21st century.

@Colin Tawn We are all workers. Terms such as colleagues and employees are used to divide us and question our identity and loyalty. Capital on the other hand has no such difficulty and capitalists know exactly which side they are on. Marxism v capitalism is as vaild a discussion today as it was when Marx and Engels penned the Communist manifesto. It wasn’t Marxism that got us into the mess we are in; it was glob capitalism and the greed of speculators yet the poorest in our society are being made to pay the price. Foodbanks are very relevant to the OP IMHO as the poorest (including many who are in work) are forced to rely on them in order to subsist. Capital isn’t taking care of the poor; charity is.

Dear all,
Following disappointing sales from our Marxist bookshop, this meeting will be preceded by a sponsored beard trim and haircut. UKIP voters please note, we already have our own cutthroat razor, so stop offering to lend us yours, it stopped being funny after the 200th time.
All proceeds will go towards the cost of the revolution, which we hope to start a week next Tuesday about quarter past two… weather permitting.
There will also be an extra item on the agenda. Cheeky Monkey and Nigel Farage will give a talk on the success of their outreach program to potential UKIP candidates entitled – ‘Bananas are for eating, not for throwing.’ Not to be missed.